Sasikala Natarajan elected as Legislative party leader, set to become Tamil Nadu CM

Sasikala is expected to take oath as Chief Minister of the state on February 8 or 9. She will replace TN CM O Panneerselvam.

By: News Desk |
February 5, 2017 4:13 pm

In a huge development, the AIADMK MLAs have elected the AIADMK General Secretary, Sasikala Natarajan as the Legislative party leader. The AIADMK announced that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam proposed the name of “Chinnamma”, Sasikala Natarajan as the leader of AIADMK Legislature Party Leader. Meanwhile, O Panneerselvam has put down his papers and have resigned from the post of the chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Sasikala Natarajan is now all set to take over as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

It is being reported that the decision to elect Sasikala as the Legislative party chief was taken unanimously.

Chinnamma all set to become the Next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

— AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) February 5, 2017

Honourable CM Thiru.O.Panneerselvam proposed the name of Chinnamma as the leader of AIADMK Legislature Party Leader.

— AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) February 5, 2017

Speculations were rife that Sasikala, close aide of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa who passed away last year, was all set to replace Panneerselvam as the Chief Minister.If media reports are to be believed Sasikala is expected to take the oath on February 8 or 9.

Earlier on December 29, the ruling AIADMK passed a resolution to appoint Sasikala as the party’s General Secretary. The council also passed a resolution condoling the death of Jayalalithaa and several other resolutions. Following her appointment, some party leaders had also urged Sasikala to contest from R.K. Nagar constituency and become the Chief Minister.

Sasikala, who was once sacked from AIADMK’s primary membership by Jayalalithaa for anti party activities, is leading the AIADMK, the second largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha with 37 members. The party also has 13 members in Rajya Sabha.

Meanwhile, miffed with Sasikala’s appointment, late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s niece J. Deepa on January 17 announced her decision of joining politics and had said that she wasn’t sure whether she will join the AIADMK or float a new party.

Deepa said she would announce her next course of action on February 24, the birthday of her aunt Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5.